Cold Stone Creamery to open in India, Sri Lanka

US ice cream chain Cold Stone Creamery is to open multiple stores in India and Sri Lanka.

Parent Kahala Brands has partnered with Tablez Food Company, part of Lulu Group International, to open 40 locations in India over the next five years and five in Sri Lanka.

The first Indian store will open by the end of the year at the Lulu Mall, a premier mall in Kochi and will be followed by more in Bangalore initially.

“Tablez Food Company is a leading organisation in India and a perfect fit for the Cold Stone Creamery brand,” said Eddy Jimenez, senior VP of international operations and development at Kahala.

“It specialises in unique, home-grown and international cuisines and has acquired the rights to many leading franchise concepts. Tablez Food Company is dedicated to seeking out concepts that bring inspiring experiences to their customers.”

Lulu Group is diversified in retail, imports & exports, trading, shipping, IT, travel & tourism and education. Tablez currently operates multiple food and beverage brands across India, Sri Lanka and the UAE including Peppermill Indian cuisine, London Dairy, Galito’s Flamed Chicken, Famous Dave’s Barbecue and The Sugar Factory..

“Cold Stone Creamery offers the best quality product and offers an amazing in-store experience that the international market has embraced for a number of years,” said Shafeena Yussuf Ali, Tablez Food Company chairperson.

“We now want to bring this unique experience to the India and Sri Lanka markets where we strongly believe that people will embrace not only the quality of the product, but also the overall guest experience.

“Over the next five years, Tablez Food Company plans to invest around $11-13 million in the Cold Stone Creamery business across India and Sri Lanka.”

In Asia, Cold Stone Creamery has established store networks in Japan, Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia. Last month it announced a partnership in Vietnam.